Easy Ways to Upgrade 7 Frozen Foods

Learn new meals you can cook with everyday frozen fare

Frozen food is a lifesaver for busy moms. It has a long shelf life, is easy to cook and makes for the perfect pinch hitter when you're running short on time. But let's face it: Those same mealtime helpers can become boring, fast. Rather than serving the same old snack or dinner, try livening things up by tossing in some veggies, whipping up a quick sauce or following one of our other delicious, easy ideas to make your favorite frozen foods more flavorful.

Fish Sticks
With their crunchy, tasty texture, fish sticks can go pretty far on their own, but add a few extra ingredients and you've got a restaurant-style seafood meal.

1) For a homemade Filet-O-Fish sandwich, place three cooked pieces in a whole-wheat roll and top with a slice of Cheddar.2) Make fish tacos in minutes by wrapping fish sticks in corn tortillas with a little salsa, shredded cabbage and avocado.3) Go po' boy–style by layering them in a hoagie roll slathered with spicy mayo (mix mayo with a drizzle of lemon juice and hot sauce) and topped with lettuce.4) Toss bite-size pieces with a little ginger salad dressing and shredded cabbage for an Asian-inspired dish.5) If all else fails, add them to mac 'n' cheese—it's not the healthiest option, but it's surprisingly delicious!

Cheese Ravioli
Cheese ravioli in a classic marinara is already a crowd-pleaser, but adding different ingredients will give you several easy recipes to add to your collection.

1) Freshen up frozen ravioli by tossing it with lightly steamed veggies (asparagus, cut green beans, peas, broccoli florets, squash), followed by a drizzle of olive oil, salt and pepper, and a dusting of pecorino cheese.2) Ravioli is also perfect for "fake-it" lasagna: Start with a layer of marinara on the bottom of a casserole dish, then alternate with layers of ravioli, finishing it off with Parmesan. Bake it at 350°F for 30 minutes.3) If you're short on time, go ahead and serve ravioli with just sauce—but make it star-worthy. For a fast, lowfat pesto, toss two handfuls of basil in your blender, add salt, pepper, about 1/2 cup grated Parmesan and enough nonfat Italian dressing to coat the leaves, and whirl away.

Meatballs
Whether you use turkey or beef, ready-made meatballs are a fantastic way to add protein to your meal.

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1) Create a hearty hoagie by nestling the meatballs in a roll and topping it with a few spoonfuls of jarred pasta sauce and shredded cheese. Then microwave the whole thing for about 30 seconds—just be sure to cover it with a paper towel to avoid any sauce mishaps.2) For a simple stroganoff, add mini-meatballs to sautéed white button mushrooms, jarred cream sauce and cooked egg noodles.3) To do a quick Asian-style dish, use meatballs in ramen and add ginger powder, soy sauce and some chopped scallions.4) Meatballs also work for a pared-down Albóndigas: Once cooked, simmer them in low-sodium chicken broth, then add half a handful of chopped parsley or cilantro, plus a dash of cumin, salt, pepper and garlic powder.5) For the best meal-in-a-hurry? Just add them to canned veggie soup!

Spinach
Chopped spinach is one of the best frozen ingredients to have on hand. Not only is it delicious, but you can slip it into anything for added nutritional value. Just be sure you squeeze all excess water out of it before using.

1)Mix it in with ricotta for lasagna or stuffed shells.2) Add it to prepared soups in need of a vitamin boost or use it in place of parsley.3) Combine it with feta cheese in a whole-wheat wrap or in omelets and frittatas.4) Mash it up with water-packed tuna, feta, a little mayo, salt, pepper, small diced peppers and a splash of lemon for a light, healthy seafood salad.

Shrimp
Shrimp is great for its versatility and it cooks in a flash. Plus, it always seems fancier than other frozen items.

1) Use it to replace chicken in quesadillas or stir-fry it in a little sesame oil with ginger, bell peppers, green beans and snow peas.2) Add it to Cheddar grits (a Southern favorite).3) Mix it with spinach, white beans, lemon and avocado for a fresh salad.4) It's also the perfect protein to go in pasta! Add it to cooked angel hair or linguine, and make a white wine and garlic sauce with lemon, or marinara that's been kicked up with garlic and red pepper flakes.

Edamame
Edamame is an easy and healthy snack on its own, but it can also be handy in a number of recipes.

1) Cook and use shelled edamame to replace lima beans in soup or succotash.2) Add to risotto, a stir-fry or fried rice, or pair with canned corn for a quick salad.3) If you're craving a creamy snack, cook and purée the beans as a delicious substitute for hummus or guacamole.